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The fauces, or isthmus of fauces, is the opening at the back of the throat, between the velum and the base of the tongue. The palatoglossal arch, or anterior faucial pillar, and the palatopharyngeal arch, or posterior faucial pillar, are the two arches that make up the fauces' pillars. The palatoglossus muscle, also known as musculus palatoglossus, is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue and the soft palate. The palatopharyngeus muscle, on the other hand, is one of the five muscles of the soft palate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are faucial arches | The arches form the pillars of the fauces (faucial pillars, tonsillar pillars, palatine arches) |
| Location | The anterior (front) pillar is the palatoglossal arch formed of the palatoglossus muscle. The posterior (back) pillar is the palatopharyngeal arch formed of the palatopharyngeus muscle. |
| Function | The palatoglossus muscle functions to elevate the posterior portion of the tongue. It also draws the soft palate inferiorly, thereby narrowing the diameter of the oropharyngeal isthmus. The palatopharyngeal arch also plays a role in sound production and can be associated with snoring and other respiratory functions. |
| Innervation | The palatoglossus muscle is innervated by the tenth cranial nerve (vagus nerve). |
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What You'll Learn
The palatoglossus muscle
The right and left palatoglossus muscles create ridges in the lateral pharyngeal wall, known as the palatoglossal arches (anterior faucial pillars). These arches separate the oral cavity and the oropharynx, acting as antagonists to the levator veli palatini muscle. The palatoglossus muscle elevates the posterior portion of the tongue, narrowing the oropharyngeal isthmus. This action is crucial during swallowing, as it propels food towards the oesophagus and prevents retrograde flow. Additionally, it maintains the palatoglossal arch, preventing saliva spillage from the vestibule into the oropharynx.
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The anterior faucial arch
The palatoglossus muscle plays a crucial role in separating the superior part of the tonsil from the supratonsillar fat. It forms the anterior boundary of the tonsillar pillar and contributes to the mechanical elevation of the tongue. The muscle's region of attachment in the soft palate can vary, and in some individuals, it may be located near the uvula. This attachment variation influences the muscle's ability to elevate the tongue or lower the soft palate.
The right and left palatoglossus muscles work together to create ridges in the lateral pharyngeal wall, which are known as the palatoglossal arches or anterior faucial pillars. These arches play a significant role in swallowing by propelling food towards the oesophagus and preventing retrograde food flow. Additionally, they maintain the palatoglossal arch, preventing saliva spillage from the vestibular region into the oropharyngeal region.
The palatoglossus muscle is innervated by the tenth cranial nerve, also known as the vagus nerve. It receives its arterial supply from the lingual artery, a branch of the external carotid artery. The lymphatic drainage of this muscle is into the deep cervical group of lymph nodes.
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The posterior faucial arch
The fauces, or oropharyngeal isthmus, is the opening at the back of the mouth into the throat. It is a narrow passage between the velum and the base of the tongue. The fauces is a part of the oropharynx directly behind the oral cavity. The palatoglossus muscle forms the anterior faucial arch, also known as the palatoglossal arch, and the palatopharyngeus muscle forms the posterior faucial arch, also known as the palatopharyngeal arch.
The palatopharyngeus muscle runs in the posterior faucial arch, or palatopharyngeal arch, of the tonsillar fossa. The palatopharyngeus muscle originates from the posterolateral part of the soft palate and runs downward and laterally to insert into the pharyngeal constrictor muscle and the thyroid cartilage of the larynx. When the palatopharyngeus muscle contracts, it narrows the posterior faucial arch and elevates the pharynx and larynx. The palatopharyngeal arch is one of the arches that form the pillars of the fauces, also known as faucial pillars, tonsillar pillars, or palatine arches.
The palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles are paired muscles of the soft palate. The soft palate forms the posterior end of the roof of the mouth. The pharynx has three components: the upper part, the nasal pharynx, is located at the posterior end of the nasal cavity; the middle part, the oral pharynx, is the back throat wall; and the lower part, the laryngeal pharynx, is below the tongue. The palatopharyngeal arch separates the nasal pharynx from the oral pharynx.
The palatoglossus muscle functions to elevate the posterior portion of the tongue and draw the soft palate inferiorly, thereby narrowing the diameter of the oropharyngeal isthmus. This action plays a significant role during swallowing by propelling the food bolus towards the oesophagus and preventing retrograde food flow. The palatopharyngeal arch, formed by the palatopharyngeus muscle, also functions to close off the nasopharynx from the oropharynx by tensing the soft palate and pulling the pharyngeal walls superiorly, anteriorly, and medially during swallowing.
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The function of the palatoglossus muscle
The palatoglossus muscle, also known as musculus palatoglossus, is among the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue and the paired muscles of the soft palate. The right and left palatoglossus muscles create ridges in the lateral pharyngeal wall, referred to as the palatoglossal arches (anterior faucial pillars).
The palatoglossus muscle functions to elevate the posterior portion of the tongue. It also draws the soft palate inferiorly, thereby narrowing the diameter of the oropharyngeal isthmus. This action plays a significant role during swallowing by propelling the food bolus towards the oesophagus and preventing retrograde food flow. The palatoglossus muscle is also active in some individuals during speech. For example, during the pronunciation of vowels such as "u," a constriction of a larger area of the oropharyngeal isthmus is necessary, which is significantly affected by the activity of the palatoglossus muscle.
The palatoglossus muscle is the only tongue muscle derived from the fourth branchial arch. All the other muscles of the tongue derive from the occipital myotomes. This is the reason that all the other tongue muscles receive innervation from the twelfth cranial nerve (hypoglossal nerve) except the palatoglossus muscle, which is innervated by the tenth cranial nerve (vagus nerve). The palatoglossus muscle receives motor innervation from the pharyngeal plexus of the vagus nerve.
The palatoglossus muscle also has a role in obstructive sleep apnoea. Studies have shown that if the nerve to the palatoglossus muscle is electrically stimulated, retropalatal space can be dilated, which in turn aids in reducing the burden of obstructive sleep apnoea. The palatoglossus muscle also has a role in tonsillar cancer. Tonsillar cancer, which in the majority of cases originates from the anterior tonsillar pillar, has a tendency to spread locally anteroinferior to the tongue, superomedial to the soft palate, or the nasopharynx region. Through the anterior tonsillar pillar and the palatoglossus muscle, the tumour can involve the palatal region (hard and soft palate) or the base of the tongue.
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The muscles of the soft palate
The soft palate is located at the back of the mouth and is formed by contributions from several muscles. It is continuous with the hard palate and the palatine aponeurosis. The soft palate is mobile and is comprised of muscle fibres covered by a mucous membrane.
The soft palate is formed by five muscles: the musculus uvulae, tensor veli palatini, levator veli palatini, palatopharyngeus, and palatoglossus. The palatopharyngeus muscle forms the palatopharyngeal arch, attaching superiorly to the hard palate and palatine aponeurosis, and inferiorly to the lateral wall of the pharynx. Its function is to tense the soft palate and pull the pharyngeal walls superiorly, anteriorly, and medially during swallowing, closing off the nasopharynx from the oropharynx.
The palatoglossus muscle, also known as musculus palatoglossus, is among the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue and the paired muscles of the soft palate. It functions to elevate the posterior portion of the tongue and draw the soft palate inferiorly, narrowing the diameter of the oropharyngeal isthmus. This action plays a significant role during swallowing by propelling food towards the oesophagus and preventing retrograde food flow. The palatoglossus muscle is the only tongue muscle derived from the fourth branchial arch. It is innervated by the tenth cranial nerve (vagus nerve), while the other tongue muscles are supplied by the twelfth cranial nerve (hypoglossal nerve).
The levator veli palatini muscle attaches superiorly to the cartilage of the auditory canal and the petrous part of the temporal bone, extending anteriorly and inferiorly to attach to the palatine aponeurosis. It is responsible for elevating the soft palate, bringing it into contact with the posterior pharyngeal wall and closing the isthmus of the pharynx, preventing food from entering the nasal cavity.
The tensor veli palatini muscle is an expansion of the tendon of the tensor veli palatini, comprising the anterior one-third of the soft palate. It tenses the soft palate and is the only muscle of the soft palate that is not innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve, instead receiving innervation from the medial pterygoid nerve.
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Frequently asked questions
The pharyngeal arches, also known as visceral arches, are transient structures seen in the embryonic development of humans and other vertebrates. They are the precursors for many structures in the head and neck region.
Each pharyngeal arch has a muscle component that differentiates from the cartilaginous tissue. The muscles of the tongue develop from three occipital myotomes, while the connective tissue, lymph glands, and mucosa are derived from the first and third pharyngeal arches. The muscles of mastication, the muscles of facial expression, and the intrinsic muscles of the larynx are also derived from the pharyngeal arches.
In addition to the muscle component, each pharyngeal arch has a skeletal and cartilaginous supporting element, as well as a vascular component. Each arch is innervated by an arch-associated cranial nerve and contains an aortic arch artery.
